United States President Donald Trump is set to terminate U.S. involvement with the United Nations Human Rights Council and extend the existing funding freeze on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, according to an unnamed White House official cited by U.S. media outlets.
Reports from Politico and NPR on Monday indicated that Trump is expected to sign an executive order formalising the withdrawal on Tuesday. This move coincides with a scheduled White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a vocal critic of both the UN and UNRWA.
Since beginning his second term on January 20, Trump has already pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Paris climate agreement—both actions he previously took during his first term before they were reversed by the Biden administration.
His decision to exit the UN Human Rights Council marks another repeat of his earlier policy. The Trump administration withdrew from the council in 2018, with then-UN Ambassador Nikki Haley citing what she called “chronic bias” against Israel. The council, composed of 47 elected UN member states serving four-year terms, is responsible for monitoring global human rights conditions.

The Human Rights Council periodically evaluates the human rights records of all UN member states, including the U.S., which is scheduled for its next review in August.
During its last assessment of the U.S. in 2020, member states made various recommendations on improving the country’s human rights record, including addressing systemic racism and closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
Beyond these reviews, the council also appoints independent human rights experts known as UN special rapporteurs.
Some UN special rapporteurs have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, including Francesca Albanese, the special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory.
As a council member, most recently from 2022 to 2024, the U.S. has used its position to critique the human rights records of other nations. However, Trump’s decision to withdraw would significantly reduce Washington’s influence within the body.